Injector



A. R. AYERS Get. 21, 1930.

INJECTOR Filed Jan. 13, 1927 mm @W mew MN M N km Patented Oct. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGUSTINE RIDENOUR AYERS, F

CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUGUSTINE R. AYERS AND ARTHUR G. HOLLINGSHELD,

TRUSTEES mmcron Application filed January 13, 1927. Serial 1T0. 160,829.

This invention relates broadly to a method of and apparatus for feeding fluid, particularly with reference to such. devices commonly known as injectors, and specif- 5 ically to an improved injector, including means for heating the fluid supplied by said injector, and for supplying the fluid under effective control at all times.

The principal objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the provision of an improved method of and apparatus for supplying liquid; the provision of an improved method of and apparatus for supplying liquid at a proper temperal6 ture and pressure; the provision of an improved method of and apparatus for employing the exhaust pressure from a fluid pressure operated engine for supplying liquid under an increased temperature and & pressure; the provision of an improved inector which may include, as a unit structure, a liquid pump and a suction lifting means; the provision of an improved 1njector including liquid heating means; the

88 provision of an improved injector including means for forcing liquid under pressure 1nto a steam boiler or the like and for heating such liquid prior to entrance into the boiler; the provision of an improved injector and an feedwater heater characterized by the incorporation therein of a fluid pressure operated pump and means for employing the exhaust from said pump for aiding in the supply of liquid under pressure; the provision of an improved injector including means for employing the exhaust steam pressure from a locomotive engine or the like; the provision of an improved in ector for steam locomotives and the like which includes, as a unit structure, a suction operated injector mechanism employing exhaust steam from the locomotive engine and a pump operated by a steam engine, 'the exhaust steam from said steam engine also serving to assist in the supply and in the heating of the boiler feedwater.

This invention is further characterized by the provision of an improved feed water heater and injector for delivering feed water to a boiler under positive control and in which a high degree of flexibility is attainable; the provision of such an apparatus wherein exhaust steam may be employed in the injector and in which variation and control of the amount of water delivered under varying conditions of exhaust steam pressure may be controlled irrespective of such fluid pressure; and the provision of an apparatus of the character described which is compact and will effectively serve to deliver a predetermined quantity of water at an increased temperature to the boiler.

The foregoing, and such other objects and advantages as may appear or be pointed out as this description proceeds, are attained in the structural embodiment of this invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a steam locomotive with the devices of this invention installed thereon; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the device of this invention, parts being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modification.

The method involved in the present invention includes employing, for the sake of convenience and economy, the exhaust steam pressure of a steam locomotive in operation for lifting waterfrom the tender tank and supplying it to a mechanical positive feed mechanism, so that I am enabled to utilize the principle of the conventional form of the exhaust steam injector for deliverin hot feed water to the boiler, the mechanical eeding means being a suitable pump or other means which will operate irrespective of the pressure of the exhaust steam and at the same time deliver the hot feed water under absolute control at all times. The method, therefore, essentially involves the steps of forcing the water under fluid pressure to a predetermined point and then by controllable 95 means supplying the water to the boiler at such a pressure as will prevent vaporizing of the water and consequent failure of the feeding system and at the same time at sufiicient pressure to overcome the back pressure from 100 the boiler. It is well known that if the wa# ter is heated beyond a predetermined point and then subjected to the suction of a pump, the water will break into steam and thus prevent operation of the pump and therefore I provide means for delivering the heated feed water to the pump under a predetermined pressure but such pressure as will not produce undesirable vaporization of the water.

In general, my invention includes a suitable injector receivin exhaust steam from the locomotive and this injector delivers the water directly to a pump which may be of the rotar type which pump is, of course, controlle by the engineman so that the en gineman has absolute controlat all times as to the quantity and pressure of the feed wa ter beingdelivered to the boiler. I lay great stress on this feature as it particularly distingu'ishes my invention from the prior art devices and methods known to me for attempting to accomplish similar results.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that a conventional steam locomotive is shown in Figure 1 and that a liquid conductor 10 leads from the injector, generally designated 11, to the steam boiler 12. A conductor for exhaust steam 13 extends from a convenient point near the smoke box of the locomotive to the injector 11. A liquid conductor 14 for water extends between the in'ector 11 and the tank of the tender 15. A uid conductor 16 for steam under pressure extends from the cab of thelocomotive to the steam engine of the injector which, as will hereinafter appear, is preferably a steam turbine. The flow of steam in the conductor 16 is controlled by the engineman by means of a suitable valve (not shown) but preferably located in the cab.

The injector of this invention, generally desi ated 11, is shown in schematic fashion in t e drawings and may conveniently include any other necessary details to facilitate its mounting upon the engine at a convenient oint.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, it will be observed that I provide an injector chamber 17, provided at its bottom with an opening 18 to which the conduit 14 is connected in any suitable way, such, for instance, as by the provision of bolts 19. A check valve 20 is interposed in the conduit 14 for an obvious purpose.

The chamber 17 is provided at the inner end with a liquid outlet 21 connected by a conduit 22 to a pump 23 (preferably of the rotary type), the outlet 24 of said pump including a check valve 25 and being connected to the conduit 10 for conducting the feedwater to the boiler. The outlet 21 is provided with a flared nozzle 26.

In substantial axial alignment with the outlet 21, there is provided a steam nozzle,

generall desi ated 27 which is conveniently o a dup ex construction including the main nozzle portion 28 in axial alignment with the outlet 21 and an auxiliary nozzle portion 29 leading into the nozzle 28 at a convenient angle to conduct steam or other fluid under pressure in the line of flow of fluid under pressure throu h the nozzle 28. The nozzle 28 is connecte by the conduit sections 30 and 31 to the conduit 13, a suitable check valve 32 being interposed in said conduit 13.

To create the necessary suction for forcing a liquid from conduit 14, there is provided a Venturi or combining tube 33 having flared ends, the smaller left hand end as viewed in Figure 2 being adapted to receive the inner end of the nozzle 28 in spaced relationship thereto and the other end of the Venturi tube 33 being disposed adjacent to but in spaced relation to the flared nozzle 26. A suitable bracket 34 may serve to su port the venturi 33, which later may be ivided into two parts and threaded into a hub formed on said bracket. If desired, the venturi may be cast with the chamber 17.

The pump 23 is preferably driven by a small turbine 35 of any conventional form, a number of which are available in the open market, a direct connection being provided between the turbine and the pump through a support 36. The turbine 35 is supplied with steam under pressure by the conduit 16 and the exhaust line 37 of said turbine extends to the auxiliary nozzle 29.

For the purpose of permitting of expansion of the fluid, an expansion tank 45 may be placed in communication as at 46 with the nozzle 26 between the injector and the pump, for obvious reasons.

In operation of the device, it will be observed that steam under pressure driving the turbine 35 will cause the pump to rotate, and exhaust steam from the main engines of the locomotive creates suflicient suction to start liquid flowing from the pipe 14 into the pipe 10. The constricted venturi 33, combined with the effect of the nozzle 28 and nozzle 29. and their cooperation to keep the pump supplied with liquid, will serve to permit said pump to be operated so as to provide a wider range of operation and a more complete flexibility of control than is readily obtainable by the employment only of the exhaust steam for lifting the feed water. The provision of the injector and the employment of exhaust steam serves to heat the feed Water supply to the pump, the steam pressure being regulated so that it will heat the water without vaporization thereof. The compactness of the device facilitates its installation on a locomotive and the arrangement is such that relatively few conduit connections are required to obtain the desired operating results.

As an alternative form of the injector thus insuring that the exhaust steam from the turbine 35 will be discharged concentric with the nozzles.

In Figure 2 I have shown means to take care of circulating of the feed water in the event that the pump 23 is shut down. This includes a conduit 40 which leads back to the tender and connects at 41 between the injector and the pump. In the conduit 40 is placed an automatic valve 42 operated by fluid under pressure from the turbine by means of a conduit 43. This valve may be of a conventional sliding piston construction, the piston 44 having one of its end faces exposed to the pressure in the conduit 43 and freely slidable in its casing 42 to close the passageways to the conduit 40 when steam is on the turbine. When the turbine is shut down, then the spring 44 opens the valve 44 and the water is circulated from the tender through the injector and back through the conduit 40 to the tender tank.

It is to be observed that in the location of the apparatus on the locomotive it is so placed that cold water will reach the pump in the event that the engine is standing idle and there is no exhaust steam pressure. The engineman will still be able at this time to deliver water to the boiler by operating the pump.

It Will be understood that by the employment of the expression injector in the specification and claims I use it in the broadest sense, that is, as an apparatus for forcing water into a steam boiler, and will also be understood that while the apparatus may be constructed as a unit structure, it is of a nature which permits the parts to be otherwise mounted on the locomotive as found convenient.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a source of liquid, a supply conduit, leading from said source, a fluid pressure operated pump in said conduit, an injector in the conduit for supplying liquid to the pump, a return conduit extending from said supply conduit between the injector and the pump to said source of liquid, a fluid pressure operated valve in said return conduit, means for normally holding said valve open, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said valve when said pump is being operated.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a liquid supply conduit connected with the boiler of an engine, said conduit having an enlarged chamber into which liquid is supplied from a source, a constricted portion in said chamber, means for supplying a heating fluid such as exhaust steam from said engine under pressure into said chamber adjacent to said constricted portion, the connection to a source of liquid supply having communication with said enlarged chamber at substantially the medial portion thereof and adjacent to said constricted ortion, a pump for withdrawing liquid rom said chamber under pressure located between the latter and a place of delivery of the liquid, a steam pressure operated motor for driving the pump, and means for continuously discharging the exhaust steam from said motor into said enlarged chamber adjacent to said constricted portion and to the point of en-.

trance of said exhaust steam from saidenglue.

3. In a device of the character described, a liquid supply conduit having an enlarged portion formed with a constriction therein spaced from the walls of said chamber to be submerged in the liquid contents thereof, means for supplying a heating fluid under pressure to said enlargement adjacent to one end of said constricted portion, a pump for withdrawing the liquid under pressure from said enlarged chamber located between the same and the place of delivery of said liquid, a steam operated motor for driving said pump, and means for continuously discharging the exhaust steam from said motor along with the heating fluid first mentioned into said enlargement adjacent to said constricted portion.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination with an engine, a liquid supply conduit having an enlarged portion formed with a constricted tube spaced from the outer walls and extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive liquid from said enlargement at both ends, means for supplying exhaust steam from said engine to one end of said chamber adjacent to said constricted portion for producing a flow of liquid through said conduit and enlarged portion, a pump for withdrawing such liquid from said chamber and located in said conduit between the chamber and the place of delivery of the liquid, a steam motor for driving the pump, and means for conducting exhaust steam from said motor into said chamber adjacent to said constricted portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed 111 name. 

